05.08.09

Hedgerow Harvest – Food for Free

Step out into the British countryside right now, and you’ll find woods and hedgerows laden with ripe, juicy offerings; so why not venture outdoors and make the most of nature’s bounty? Lakeland, the home of creative kitchenware, has everything you’ll need to cook, bottle and preserve your gains, with their usual value-for-money, and backed up by their famous ‘no-quibble’ guarantee.

There’s a pleasure to be had in foraging for food which far outrivals a trip to the supermarket. What could be more enjoyable on a crisp, autumn day than a walk out in the fresh air, on the hunt for blackberry bushes bursting with fruit – and not a shopping trolley or cellophane wrapper in sight? Why not revisit those childhood memories – scrambling amongst the brambles; the telltale purple-stained fingers and lips. You don’t even need to travel far – blackberries grow along country lanes, around parks, even in built-up areas.

Once picked, fruit should be eaten within a couple of days. If you can’t use it straight away, keep it fresh in an airtight, watertight Lock & Lock container. Lakeland sell a host of different sizes to suit every need, from 180ml (2597), perfect for a single portion of fresh berries, right up to 5.5 litres (2482) for a larger crop. There’s also a Lock & Lock Set (12258), a compact collection of five convenient sizes, and at under £10, it’s great value for money.

For the perfect pairing, who can resist deep, dark blackberries combined with sweet, sharp apples, all finished off with a rich, buttery pie-crust topping? Windfall apples and pears are begging to be put to good use, and taste just delicious in crumbles and cakes. A pastry board is essential for rolling out, and Lakeland’s new Marble Pastry Board (13203) keeps cool to prevent sticking and help you get the job done. Their Easy-As-Pie Set (5867) ensures a crisply baked pie shell, with a perforated insert to prevent burning, while the Lattice Pastry Cutter (11640) is an easy, impressive way to top a pie, and is available only at Lakeland.

There’s plenty of exotic, mythical-sounding fruit out there too – elderberries, wild cherries, rowanberries and rosehips all make for delicious jams and jellies, while crab apples give cider a wonderful twist. Last autumn, sales of preserving products continued to grow, and Lakeland predict the same will be true this year. If you’re seeking inspiration on what to do with your hedgerow harvest, their latest Autumn Kitchenware catalogue has three new books on preserving, including one from the original ‘celebrity chef’, Marguerite Patten, who shares her wealth of knowledge in 200 tried-and-tested recipes.

For the ultimate in jam-making, try the popular Tefal Electric Jam Maker (12613) – with it, you could be ladling home-made jam into a jar in under an hour, and Lakeland’s online customers have awarded it an average of 4½ stars out of 5. For those who prefer more traditional methods, you’ll find Lakeland’s new Stainless Steel Straining Funnel (13306) invaluable for filtering out berry seeds; while the return of a preserving classic, the Kilner Jar (13218, 13219), first produced over 150 years ago, will ensure preserves stay fresher for longer. Pretty, practical jam-making solutions such as decorative labels (7527), jam jar toppers (12186) and gift caddies (12187) mean you can transform home-made preserves into thoughtful, seasonal
gifts.

Le Parfait Preserving Jars (3813, 3814) lend themselves to bottling fruit, filling with jams and jellies, chutneys or pickles. Home-made is far tastier than anything you can buy in the shops, and a spoonful of chunky chutney can transform a humble sandwich. You’ll need a sturdy wooden spoon, and Lakeland’s exclusively designed Beech Wood Preserving Spoon (11460) has a flat edge to scrape the bottom of the pan, plus a clever hook to stop it slipping down into the jam.

Damsons and sloes make for excellent gins, and harking back to days gone by, Lakeland’s Traditional Bottle Sets (13342, 13343) are perfect for presenting them. The rustic wooden containers are hand-made with a distressed-style finish; you just need to choose between the caddy and the crate. Or how about their Preserving Bottles (11086, 11087); made from recycled glass, they look just as nice filled with cider or wine, and keep contents fresh while the flavours infuse.

Freshly picked, wild herbs have a unique taste which can enhance your cooking no end. Wild mint, watercress, even wild garlic, parsley and nettles all have a distinctive flavour which will add an adventurous edge to your dishes! So take Lakeland’s advice and roll up your sleeves and get picking – there’s a glorious glut of free food to be found, that you just won’t see on the supermarket shelf.

Images shown:
Lock & Lock Set Ref 12258 £9.79
New Marble Pastry Board Ref 13203 £19.99
Easy-As-Pie Set Ref 5867 £9.78
New Preserving Books:
Pickles, Relishes & Chutneys Ref 13138 £8.99
Jams, Jellies and Marmalades Ref 13137 £8.99
Jams, Preserves & Chutneys Ref 13164 £7.99
Tefal® Electric Jam Maker Ref 12613 £99.87
New Stainless Steel Straining Funnel Ref 13306 £7.99
New Kilner Jars 500ml Ref 13219 £24.99 & 1 Litre Ref 13218 £29.99 Packs of 12
New Traditional Bottle Crate Ref 13342 £24.99
6 Preserving Jars 500ml Ref 3813 £13.99 & 1 Litre Ref 3814 £14.99
Exclusive Beech Wood Preserving Spoon Ref 11460 £3.97
Preserving Bottles
Sloe Gin Ref 11086 £3.98 each
Cordial Ref 11087 £3.69

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